The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-08-13
HUNTING osTRIcHEs.


With the Abrabs of the desert the
chase and capture of the ostrich is the
most attractive and aristocratic of the
many diversions in which they indulge.
The first thing attended to when hunt
is contemplated is the preparation Of
the horses. They are entirely deprived
of grass and fed on barley for seven or
eight days before the intended hunt.
They are allowed to drink only once
day, and that at sunset; at that time
they are also washed. They take long
exercises, and great attention is paid to
the arrangement of the harness. The
Arab says that after seven or eight days
the stomach disappears, while the chest,
the breast and Group remain in flesh.
The animal is then in condition to en-
dure fatigue. This training is called
''teehaha." The harness used in this
hunting is much lighter than that in or
binary use, especially the saddle and
the stirrups, and the martingale is dis
pensed with. The bride also under
goes many changes, the mountings and
earlaps being taken away, as they are
considered too heavy. The bit and
frontlet are made of rope, without
throatband, and the reins. though very
strong. are extremely light.
The time most favorable for ostrich
hunting is when there is the greatest
heat The higher the temperature the
less is the ostrich able to defend itself
The Arab says that when man stands
upright and his shadow is only the
length of his foot is the exact time to
hunt. Each horseman is accompanied
by servant called s'zemmal." He is
mounted on a camel carrying four goat
skins filed with water, and barley for
the horse, wheat flour for the rider.
some dates, kettle in which to cook
the food, and every thing which can
possibly be required for the repairing
of the harness in case of accident The
horseman wears q linen vest and
trousers, and covers his neck and ears
with light material called "havuli,
which is tied with strip of camel hide.
His feet are protected with sandals, and
his legs by light CATERS, called ''tra~
bag" He has neither gun nor pistol,
his only weapon being wild olive or
tamarind stick, five or six feet long,
with heavy knot at one end.
Before starting off the hunters ascer-
tain where large number Of ostriches
are to be found. They are generally
met with in the places where there is
great deal of grass, and rain has re-
Gently fallen. The hunters commence
their journey early in the morning
After one or two days travelling, when
they have arrived near the desired spot
and begin to see traces of their game
they halt and camp. After settling, two
intelligent slaves are sent out to recon-
noltre. They carry goat skin at their
side and little bread. They walk on
until they find the ostriches, which are
generally on elevated places. As soon
as the game is in view one lies down to
watch and the other returns to convey
the information to the camp. The birds
are found in troops, consisting often of
as many as sixty. The horsemen, guided
by the scout. travel cautiously toward
the game. The nearer they approach
the spot the greater is their caution, and
when they reach the last ridge which
hides them from the ostriches they dis
mount and creep forward to ascertain
whether the birds are still there. If such
is the case, a moderate quantity of water
is given to the horses, and each man
mounts again and proceeds. The serv-
ants and camels follow little distance
behind, carrying with them corn and
water.
The horsemen divide and form .
circle around the ostriches at such a
distance as not to be noticed by them.
The servants halt when the horsemen
separate, and as soon as they see their
masters in position, they walk below
their prey. The ostriches fee, but are
met by the hunters. who at first only
drive them back into the circle. They
are made to run around the ring. and
in this way their strength is exhausted.
At the first sign of fatigue in the birds
the horses dash in, and the flock sepa-
rates. The affrighted birds open their
wings, which is & sign of great ex-
haustion. and the hunter, now feeling
sure of his prey, selects his bird and
runs it down, and finishes it with
blow on the head with the olive stick.
The moment the bird falls the man
quickly dismounts and cuts its throat,
taking care to hold the head at some
distance from the body, 50 as not to
soil the plumage It is said the male
bird utters loud means while dying. but
the female dies in silence. When the
ostrich is on the point of being taken
by the hunter, if he does not wish to
kill it he can easily drive it with the
stick to where the camel is. it is in such
an exhausted condition. After the birds
are bled to death they are carefully
skinned, so that the feathers may not
become injured, and the skin is stretched